The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-08-26
Wreck of O Schooner,
[By telegraph to the Asheville Citizen. /

lBy telegraph to the Asheville Citizen.l
CHICAGO, August 25.-A special
from Miller, Ind, reports the first
fatal wreck of the season: The
schooner Clara of Manistee was driv-
en- ashore yesterday and her wreck
age is thrown along the beach for
miles. Capt. Olsen, her master and
owner, and one of the sailors lost
their lives, and John Gustavison,
mate, escaped by swimming ashore
on a plank. The vessel was bound
for Chicago with cargo of hard
lumber, She left Manistee Monday
morning with a light wind, but to-
ward night a squall swept her from
northeast, jerking her sails out OF
bolt ropes and crippling her so she
became unmanageabe, All night
long she staggered before the gale,
that kept increasing in violence.
The sea run very high and the
waves swept her decks ofeverything
movable. She arrived off Chicago
in such disabled condition it was
impossible to work her into harbor,
and she was driven up the lake. Re-
alizing that she was soon to be on
the beach, the, captain let go the
anchor when abreast of this place.
but the hukes failed to hold and
she dragged on the sand bar half
mile from shore. The sea kept
dashing over her and the crew were
compelled to climb into the rigging
and lash themselves to keep from
being washed overheard In less
than an hour coverings on the
matches were carried away. The
sea swept into the hold, filling it to
its decks. Then she rolled over Oh
her side, and Hans Christensen WAS
carried away on the crest of the
wave. Capt. Olsen and Gustavisen
got hold of a plank with hopes that
waves would pusf. it onward 70 the
beach. Gustayison says he heard
loud cry, and on looking behind
him saw that the captain had re-
laxed his hold, and was even then
disappearing beneath the waves. He
was unable to help him and the
captain went down. Gustavison
does not recollect much about his
battle for life. Three times the
plank turned over and buried him
in the water, but he hung on to it.
He was dashed bleeding and sense-
less ON the sandy beach. When he
recovered his senses he was lying
on his back with rain pelting down
on his face. There was not a house
in sight, for the village lies three
miles back from the lake. Naked,
bruised and bleeding he made his
way along the beach to the club
house of the Calumet shooting club.
He had just enough strength to
give a feeble rap on the door, and
when it opened he fell fainting.
across the threshold. He was car
risd inside and kindly cared for
until recovered sufficiently to relate
his story and after being provided
with clothing took the train for
Chicago. Before leaving Gustavi~
son went down to tile beach to see
what had become of the wreuk. He
found it had broken up and broken
timbers and cargo were scattered in
every direction. The captains
chest, which Gustavisoa says con>
tanned sum of money was found,
but it was broken open and,its c1n-
tents were missing. Gustayison
thinks the chest had been 1rif1ed by
thieves. Neither of the bodies have
been recovered. All day and night
men from the village have been
up the cargo us it drifLed
ashore and hauling it away.
Ben Longlors, of the Chicago life
saving crew, who came down here
with the reporter says he never saw
such hungry lot of thieYes around
a wreck in his life.